A Japanese white pine bonsai tree stands in the National
Arboretum in Northeast Washington, boasting a full set of bright-green leaves
and an impressively thick trunk, approximately 18” in diameter. Thirty nine
years after its arrival at the facility, and on the 70th anniversary of the
Hiroshima bombing, the tree is being honored.

In 1976, as “part of a gift to the United States for its
bicentennial,” bonsai master Masaru Yamaki donated the topiary. For 25 years,
it stood quietly among the rest of the collection in the Bonsai and Penjing
Museum. But, in 2001, everything changed. Yamaki’s grandchildren, Shigeru and
Akira Yamaki, arrived unexpectedly to view the precious bonsai, which they had
never before seen, and subsequently unraveled its awe-inspiring history.

This “botanical relic” is actually a whopping 390 years old
and, according to the Washington Post, it has already surpassed its expected
lifespan. But that’s not even the most amazing aspect of its existence. Seventy
years ago, it resided in Japan. More precisely—Hiroshima. And, 70 years ago, it
survived the Hiroshima bombing.

The bonsai, which stood in Yamaki's nursery, was barely two
miles away from the site of the blast and yet it, as well as all the members of
the household, managed to survive the impact and the flying shards of glass
from shattered windows.

The collection’s caretaker, Jack Sustic, is responsible for
the tree's well-being. This includes daily watering, inspecting for bugs,
rotating with the sun, and occasional re-potting. According to Sustic, “Bonsai
refers not to the type of tree but rather the manner in which it is cared for.
It is the blending of art and nature...Bonsai is like a verb. It’s not a noun;
it’s doing.”